I’m Coach Marisa, and I just couldn’t be happier about being the newest addition to the Practice Pro team! I’m super excited to have the opportunity to work with young players on their journeys to greatness within the sport of softball. I look forward to getting to know each of you as I put forth my best efforts to aid and empower you into becoming great batters and confident women.  

I’m sure some of you noticed that I used the word “batters” instead of “hitters”- very astute if you did! I firmly believe that there is a distinction that can be made, and for those of you who join my offensive classes, you are going to learn, execute, and dominate because of those important nuances.

From “just throw strikes” to “you need to master a fastball first,” there are a lot of misconceptions floating around about how what to teach a pitcher when developing her. Many of these beliefs are so common they feel like fact—especially for beginners. But here’s the thing: softball pitching is full of counterintuitive concepts, and the common beliefs often miss the mark.

Let’s clear the air. Here are the first 6 of 14 misconceptions we hear all the time—and why they’re holding pitchers back.

Welcome to the Ultimate Glossary of Pitching Terms, brought to you by Practice Pro. Save it, share it, and use it anytime you’re wondering what a coach, parent, or player is talking about.

🔑 Fundamental Terms

Stride – The forward step the pitcher takes toward home plate as part of her delivery.

Power Line – An imaginary line running from the pitcher’s rubber to home plate. Pitchers aim to stay aligned with this during the stride to maximize power and direction.

Once the season starts, everything shifts.

The intensity ramps up, the stakes get higher, and the margin for error shrinks. What worked during the offseason doesn’t always translate directly into game-day performance unless practices are adjusted to mirror real play. At Practice Pro, we believe that what happens in training should reflect the demands of competition. That means, when you're in-season, your practice environment has to look, feel, and challenge you like the game itself.

Drills and reps still matter—but now more than ever, how you practice matters just as much as what you practice.

So how do you create game-like situations during practice? Here are some ways to make each session more intentional, competitive, and connected to what athletes will actually face on in the circle.

High school season is here—which means hot days, quadruple-headers, long car rides, and a whole lot of competing. For pitchers, it’s an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) time of year. So how do you make sure you're not just surviving the season... but thriving through it?

Here are 5 things I wish I would have known before I played in high school. Every pitcher should be doing to stay ready, recover fast, and show up confident every time they take the circle.

1. Have a Pre-Game Routine That Grounds You
It doesn’t need to be complicated—but it does need to be consistent. Whether it’s arm circle breakdowns, 7-minute warm-up, or a dynamic warm-up, doing the same prep before each game helps your body feel physically ready and your brain feel locked in. It also helps you focus on your game, no matter who’s in the other dugout.

We’re officially in the in-season (April–July)—the most exciting time of year! This is when pitchers finally get to apply everything they've worked on during the offseason and preseason to live games. But just because you're in the heat of competition doesn’t mean practice stops. In fact, how you train during the season is just as important as how you perform.

Each season requires a different mix of pitching workouts. In-season training depends heavily on game workload: how many games you're pitching, how many innings you're throwing, and how your arm is feeling. Managing fatigue and staying sharp are the name of the game.

Why Offseason Work Still Matters

During the offseason (October–December), pitchers have the freedom to push, experiment, and rebuild. There’s no pressure to be game-ready, which makes it the ideal time to:

Back in 2015, when I was running Chicagoland Baseball & Softball Academy’s softball program, I worked with a great coach who emphasized the importance of players understanding the game, not just playing it. My baseball counterpart had a simple yet insightful idea—he wanted the boys to coach first base so they could develop a better feel for the game.

He gave them some basic guidance and sent them out there. But to his surprise, they struggled. Even with clear instructions, they just couldn’t grasp what to do. He was baffled—when he was a kid, coaching first base was second nature.

So many challenges, frustrations, and disappointments—whether for coaches, players, or parents—stem from vague expectations and a lack of communication throughout the season. Inspired by these teams and my own coaching experience, I’ve put together a set of guiding principles for pitchers. These rules help ensure that every pitcher understands her role, stays accountable, and approaches the game with the right mindset.

At every age leading up to college softball recruiting, coaches suggest getting a realistic assessment of your skills. Everyone wants to know, do I have what it takes? Go to college games to observe the level of play. Ask instructors and coaches what you realistically need to improve on.

Erica Hanrahan

When it comes to deciding who should call the game, there are two very different schools of thought—and both have valid points. Before diving into the debate, though, I want to emphasize something I’m incredibly passionate about:

Pitchers need to have full autonomy to shake off a pitch or location call if they feel something else is more appropriate.

This autonomy is critical because pitchers need to own every pitch they throw. If they don’t like a pitch call for any reason, it’s on them to shake it off and get the pitch or location they believe in. That’s how you grow from being a thrower to becoming a pitcher. At the end of the day, the responsibility lies with the person throwing the ball—not the pitch caller.

Investing wisely in quality instruction, essential tools, and physical training programs can make a real impact on a pitcher’s journey. When you prioritize tools and training that build both physical and mental strength, you’re setting up pitchers for growth and long-term success.

Winter in Chicago can make softball practice challenging, but it’s crucial for young pitchers to keep working on their skills, no matter the conditions. Consistency is key, and even if you don't have access to perfect equipment or facilities, there are still ways to practice effectively. Whether your daughter has a catcher, a net, or just a small space indoors, there are drills and equipment that can help her focus on mechanics and build proper movement patterns. The key is to make the most of what you have and keep practicing every day, ensuring steady progress even during the colder months.

This is what college coaches are looking for: a pitcher who wants to be part of a team’s success, even if that means she isn’t the primary star. This takes practice, and that practice is in the mental preparedness to be that type of a teammate. You must train to execute this behavior when you don’t think or feel this way at first. Once you rehearse this skill after learning about it, writing about it, and deciding your action plan to live it, you get to prepare in class through the Practice Pro model. THAT is why I believe in pitching school so profoundly. And THAT is also why Abby and I are deeply motivated to start an elite level class for pitchers who want to be everything they can be in college